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Before 1993 if a teenage girl had a baby in Norman, the chances were high that she would drop out of high school before she started to show. Her education and career hopes were over. She stayed home with the baby intending to go back to school but most of the time it just didn't happen.

The Junior League of Norman changed that in January 1993. They bought a house at 641 Nebraska St. and renovated it to meet the needs of a child development and education center. Then with the assistance of Norman Public Schools, Crossroads Youth and Family Services and Center for Children and Families, Baby Steps was born.

Any Norman student who is pregnant or already has a child, may leave the child at Baby Steps while the student finishes high school. If they don't have transportation, a bus will take the students and their child to Baby Steps. The parents get their child situated, they attend a parenting skills class and then go to Norman High School, Norman North, Moore-Norman Technology Center or Dimensions Academy. Free to continue their education, reach their goals, become productive citizens and effective and nurturing parents.

Stephanie Sager, Junior League of Norman Baby Steps chair, said that the Baby Steps program tries not only to provide a nurturing, loving, and supportive environment for the infants, toddlers, and their parents, but also parenting classes, counseling, and life skills to help them to be successful in the future.

Robin Payne, teacher and counselor at Baby Steps has been with the program seven years.

"I wish this class was mandatory," Payne said of any teenage parent.

The parents don't have to bring diapers or formula or pay for the the child care.

"Anything they need, we e-mail the Junior League and it is here," Payne said. "Beds, swings, bouncers, clothes for both the babies and the moms, it is here."

Junior League members also come to Baby Steps and do different things with the students, Payne said. Payne not only teaches life skills and what to expect with a pregnancy and child care, but often tutors the students in other classes. She gets close to her students, she said, and sometimes hears from students she taught seven years ago.

This past year, the Junior League helped Crossroads hold the first "Daddy Boot Camp" to help fathers learn how to better engage with their babies. This camp also included healthy cooking classes to help the teens improve their own nutrition and become good role models for their children.

"With the help of the Norman Community Foundation, we were able to purchase crock pots and other cooking supplies for the classes," said Sager. "Since the adoption of the Junior League's new focus of fitness and nutrition, we feel that educating the teens on a healthy lifestyle and healthy cooking will provide them with lifelong benefits."

Baby Steps is licensed to serve children six weeks to three years of age and all of the workers are licensed early childhood educators. Once the children turn three, they are able to transition into a Head Start program. Prior to 1993, the most reliable statistics show that very few parenting teens remained in school, with an average of only one graduating each year. On average, seven seniors have graduated each year since Baby Steps opened.

"Since the inception of the program in 1993, more than 115 girls have had the opportunity to receive their high school diploma because of the support and childcare the Baby Steps program provides to them," said Sager.

Kristen Price, 18, has been in the program for two years and will graduate in the spring of 2009. She has a 2 year old son, Timmy, who attends Baby Steps.